Biology

Physiology

Chinchou is a small, round, blue fish-like Pokémon with a pair of tiny white fins and two small blue feet. It has two antennae that are positioned on its rear like two tails. There is a yellow teardrop-shaped orb at the end of each antenna. Chinchou's eyes have unique pupils that are shaped like plus signs.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Chinchou on land

Chinchou charges up its electric attacks by absorbing energy through its two antennae. Though Chinchou are fish, they have the ability to walk on land.

Pokédex entries

Chinchou, the Angler Pokémon, have the ability to conduct electrical currents from their two tentacles which flow positive from one end and negative to the other. Chinchou can also communicate underwater by flashing its tentacles.

In the TCG

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: Chinchou are the main bumpers on the Ruby Field. Hitting a nearby button will change the formation from three floating in place, to three moving around, to just the one moving around. They will occasionally disappear and be replaced by Lotad or Whiscash.

Name origin

Chonchie is a corruption of 提灯 chōchin (lantern). Also, チョウチンアンコウ chouchin-anko is the name of the footballfish, a deep-sea fish similar to Chinchou's evolution, Lanturn. Notably, 調和 chōwa is Japanese for harmony, describing the balance of Chinchou's water and electric types.